Shingles is a viral infection that causes a painful rash. Our shingles immunisation service is a simple way to help protect against shingles. It is suitable for people turning 65, those aged 70 to 79 and those aged 50 and over with a severely weakened immune system.
What is shingles?
Shingles is caused by the reactivation of the varicella zoster – the virus that causes chickenpox. If you have had chickenpox, this virus stays inside your body and can become activated during times of stress or if the immune system is lowered.
How effective is the shingles immunisation?
Our service uses a vaccine, which is proven to be over 90% effective at preventing shingles in clinical trials. It is given in two doses, with the second being administered two to six months after the first. It is important to have both doses to get the full benefits of protection — our Nursing Team can book you in for your second dose after you have had the first.
Why should I get immunised against shingles?
It is estimated that around 1 in 4 people will develop shingles at some point during their life and the risk of increases with age.
Shingles causes a painful blistering rash that can take up to four weeks to heal and, in some cases, can lead to long-term pain known as post-herpetic neuralgia that can last for months or even years. Whilst shingles cannot be spread to others, if you have shingles, anyone who has not had chickenpox before could catch chickenpox from you, as shingles is caused by the same virus. Our shingles immunisation service is a way to help protect against shingles.
Learn about the immunisation and side effects
At your appointment, if the service is suitable for you, our Health Practitioner (a Nurse or a Healthcare Assistant) will administer the immunisation into your upper arm. As with all medicines, there may be some side effects, the most common of which includes:
redness, soreness or bruising at the injection site
headache, muscle pain, feeling tired, chills of fever
nausea, vomiting, diarrhoea and/or stomach pain
These side effects are usually mild and should disappear on their own in a day or two. In the rare event that you have an allergic reaction to the immunisation, the Health Practitioner is trained to help with this.
If you have any concerns about side effects of your immunisation, please discuss this with the Health Practitioner.